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Animal advocates are pressing for some law changes to allow owners to recover noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering, in case their pets die by malpractice. Veterinarians, however, argue that the move would only complicate matters. "It would bring so much uncertainty and endless litigation ... How do you measure the emotional bond of one person and his or her animal versus another," said AVMA's Adrian Hochstadt.

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Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Karen Murphy presented 11 Philadelphia hospitals with awards for their quick response to the May 12 Amtrak derailment that killed eight people and injured many more. Temple University Hospital CEO John Kastanis called the response a team effort and said the health care community "handled this crisis with skill, compassion, coordination and professionalism."

Self-care and a belief in the mission are important to preventing burnout among hospice and palliative care practitioners, says palliative care physician Nina O'Connor of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. O'Connor says hospice and palliative care professionals provide comfort and support to patients and families, and "that sense of why you're doing it helps prevent burnout."

The ninth annual World Rat Day, observed Monday, aims to promote rats as warm and loving pets and overcome the prejudice against the animal. Rats have been domesticated for at least 100 years, and data from AVMA show that about 452 in every 1,000 pet-owning families are home to "other rodents," according to this column.

Several U.S. cities and municipalities in recent years have adopted laws that make use of the term "guardian" instead of "owner" to describe a person's relationship with pets. Proponents of the movement say it's the first step toward elevating pets to human status, while groups, including the AVMA, are concerned it will cause
an increase in lawsuits, especially in relation to malpractice.

There are a number of ways to own a pet without going broke, according to this article. Prospective owners can save on costs by adopting mixed-breed pets from a shelter, getting free animal health information from groups such as the AVMA and adding variety to pet diets, among other measures.